What Kind Of Church Is This?

Believe it or not, all churches are not the same. If your idea has been that "a church is a church is a church" then you need to investigate more closely. Some churches are different in their organizational arrangement. Some churches are different in their goals and purposes for existence. Some churches are different in their doctrines and traditions which they practice.
Perhaps you are looking for the church you read about in the New Testament - nothing more nor less than just a church. That is who we are.  We have no creed but the Bible and we speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent. "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11).

THE CHURCH CHRIST BUILT

Is This Possible In The 21st Century? Yes, since seed always reproduces after its own kind, the church can exist today just like the one of the first century. The word of God is the spiritual seed (cf. Luke 8:11; 1 Pet. 1:23), and when it is obeyed without addition or subtraction then the characteristics of New Testament Christianity will be reproduced. That is why we make the appeal, "if we are doing something for which we have no authority, show us by the Bible and we will stop doing it; or if you show us something in the Bible that we are not practicing we will start doing it." Other churches will not say that! This attitude toward Bible authority is what makes us unique in the religious world today. We believe it makes a difference with God what we do because Jesus said, "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21).
What Is Our Organizational Structure? What Is Our Organizational Structure? Other local congregations just like this one exist throughout the world, but there are no headquarters on earth. Each local church is independent and self-governing. Christ is our only head (Eph. 1:22-23), and the Bible is our only creed (Gal. 1:6-8; 2 John 1:9). Within the framework of each congregation men are appointed to serve as "elders" (I Tim. 3; Titus 1). They are also called "pastors" and "bishops". Their authority is only to teach and administer the word of Christ, and their allegiance is solely to Him. The church at this place is free from inter-congregational ties or any kind of centralized oversight from without. Neither do our elders oversee the work of another congregation nor any "brotherhood work". They oversee only the work of the flock of God "among them" (1 Peter 5:2; Acts 20:28). We do cooperate in assisting sister congregations when they have need, but we do so in a manner that respects the autonomy of each local church (2 Cor. 8:9).
What Is Our Goal Or Purpose For Existence? We are motivated by a sincere love for God to worship and serve Him. You will find that in our assemblies we emphasize the reading and studying of God's word, the Bible. Our primary mission is to preach the good news of salvation by grace through faith. If God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, then the least we can do is to make known this love to our fellow man by bringing lost souls to the Christ and by encouraging one another to live faithfully unto death. Our purpose for existence is therefore spiritual in nature. "Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5). Being a spiritual house, we meet to worship God just as Christians did in the New Testament days. We are careful to do as they did, namely to sing and pray; and on the first day of the week we partake of the Lord's supper and give as God has prospered us (cf. Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 14:15; 1 Cor. 16:2). We try to be equally careful not to add anything to our worship that He has not authorized lest we worship in "vain" (Matt. 15:7-9).
How Can One Become A Member Of This Church? Become just a Christian! When one is saved, he is added by the Lord to the church. "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47). Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). Sinners were told, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). Therefore we accept into our fellowship all who willingly confess their belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and will repent and be baptized (immersed) for the forgiveness of their sins. Obeying these commandments makes a person just a Christian. We wear no other name than Christ's and seek to be no other kind of church than the one described in the New Testament. Wouldn't you like to be just a Christian?
-- by Robert Harkrider, edited and adapted by Bryan Moten, Minister – Church of Christ in Goose Creek, South Carolina.

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